Nature Awed

Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve

Richland County, Ohio · 1.2 trail miles in ODNR's guide

Our take written by Nature Awed

Fowler Woods in Richland County is a beech-maple forest grading into swamp forest, with buttonbush swamps and woodland pools where amphibians breed in spring and early summer.

ODNR describes marsh marigolds in April and a wide spread of wildflowers later in May, and it names spring and fall as the times to avoid biting insects. A 1.25-mile accessible boardwalk crosses the preserve, with a parking lot and observation deck.

Our plain-language reading of the ODNR text quoted on this page. It adds no facts of its own.

Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page for this preserve and ODNR's permit page before relying on this summary.

What ODNR says about it

Fowler Woods is an excellent example of a beech-maple community, grading into swamp forest on the lower ground. Several low areas are water-covered most of the year and occupied by large buttonbush swamps. The numerous buttonbush swamps and woodland pools scattered throughout Fowler Woods support a wide diversity of breeding amphibians during the spring and early summer months.
ODNR: Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14
This nature preserve is one of the best sites in Ohio for viewing spring wildflowers. Especially notable are the spectacular displays of marsh marigolds in April. Later in May the forest floor is blanketed with an outstanding diversity of spring wildflowers including trilliums, violets, Dutchman's breeches, Jack-in-the-pulpit, spring beauty and phlox. The woodlands support a variety of nesting birds including Red-headed Woodpecker, Ovenbird, Redstart and Scarlet Tanager. This is one of the few areas in north central Ohio where one can still hear the haunting song of the Veery. The preserve has a wheelchair accessible boardwalk. The site also features parking lot and observation deck. Spring and fall are the best times to visit Fowler Woods to avoid biting insects.
ODNR: Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14

Visiting

ODNR's visitor notes
  • Open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
  • Stay on designated trails
  • Pets are not permitted
  • No public restrooms
ODNR: Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14

Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page before relying on these hours.

Trails

ODNR's trail notes
  • 1.25 mile accessible boardwalk trail.
ODNR: Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14

In ODNR's preserve guide

Our table of the guide's row for Fowler Woods (Richland County). The row as printed is quoted below.
Address7815 Olivesburg-Fitchville Rd, Greenwich, 44837
Trails (miles)1.2
Visitor informationnone printed
The guide's row
Fowler Woods Richland 7815 Olivesburg-Fitchville Rd Greenwich, 44837 1.2
ODNR: Ohio State Nature Preserves & Natural Areas Guide (PDF) · our check found this text on October 14

Access permit

Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve is not on ODNR's list of preserves that require an access permit, and its ODNR page as quoted here doesn't call for one. ODNR also says: An access permit is required to leave trails within a state nature preserve. (ODNR: State Nature Preserves Access Permit).

The land on ODNR's map

Field values as ODNR's GIS lands layer returns them (one row per mapped feature; our checker found them on October 14).
LANDS_NAMECOUNTYPROP_TYPESUM_CALC_ACRESMANAGING_AGENCY
Fowler Woods State Nature PreserveRICHLANDDedicated Nature Preserve180.67Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Our calculations from those features, re-computed at each check.
Mapped acres180.67 (our sum of the parcels ODNR's GIS layer maps under this name)
Access permitNo whole-preserve permit requirement identified in the sources we check; named-area or activity permits may still apply
Centre of mapped land40.9717, -82.4719 (our calculation; not an entrance or parking lot)

Statewide rules

Ohio Administrative Code chapter 1501:17 sets rules for nature preserves and natural areas under ODNR's supervision or its designated custodian, on pets, drones, picnics, collecting and more. Can I…? quotes them rule by rule, with their exceptions.

Pets are prohibited at all state nature preserves, except Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve where leashed pets are only allowed on the multipurpose paved trail.
ODNR: Ohio State Nature Preserves & Natural Areas Guide page · our check found this text on October 14

Check before you go. Verify current hours, access and trail information on ODNR: Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve and ODNR: State Nature Preserves Access Permit; our checker last found the quoted words there on October 14.

Nearest other preserves

Straight-line miles between the centres of mapped land (our calculation), not driving distance.